The Kanack School of Music

The Kanack School of Musical Artistry was founded in 1995. The journey to the School’s creation began when Alice Kanack traveled to Japan in 1984 to meet Dr. Shinichi Suzuki in Matsumoto. Her idea was that the creative ability of any individual could be developed through music - that the strength of one’s creativity is not a static value. The parallels between her work and Dr. Suzuki’s philosophy were so striking, that he publicly nicknamed her “Mozart’s Mother.” For the next ten years, Alice taught in New York City and refined her ideas. After meeting Dr. Suzuki once more, Alice then moved back to her hometown to begin her own school.

True to our founding, nearly all students are taught to improvise through the Creative Ability Development Method (CAD) authored by Alice Kanack. Our pedagogy combines discipline with fun. We seek to teach technical excellence as well as musicality so that all students are musical artists in their own rights. In summary:

Creative Ability + Music = Musicality
Musicality + Technical Facility = Artistry

The Kanack School serves a student population of over 400 students and employs about 20 professional musicians and educators. The School is currently in the process of expanding its capacity. The Kanack School also headquarters the Creative Ability Development Method. Every year, Alice travels with a CAD Tour Group, composed of student improvisers of various ages and levels, to demonstrate CAD at workshops as well as regional and national conferences.

Students not only take private lessons but are also encouraged to attend all group classes. These include various improvisation classes, string orchestras, repertoire classes, fiddle styles, chamber music, and more. The atmosphere of the School makes for a community of fun-loving creators and musicians. There is no additional cost for group lessons at the School for students enrolled in private lessons.

Every summer, the School holds three weeks of summer camps. During the year, the School periodically hosts guest artists for masterclasses or performances. Check our website for details! Concerts at the School are always open to the public.

The School accepts students of any age and holds a variety of classes appropriate for students of any age, ranging from toddlers to adults. The School currently offers lessons for violin, viola, cello, guitar, piano, and voice.

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